History of Saginaw county, Michigan; together with ... portraits ... and biographies ... History of Michigan ...

HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.

229

"In the following years, the emigration to this county came in
a large measure from the northern portion of Germany and Lower
Germany, but mostly from the Province of Pomerania and the
States of Mecklenfurg. They are a healthy, strong, industrious
and economical set of men; work for a few years in tle saw-mills
and salt works, then with their savings buy some wild land, cut
tle trees into cord-wood, at the same time clearing their farms, and
soon get a moderate competence.
"At the close of my speech, which may lhave been tedious to
Ilany of you, let me ask, and try to answer. two questions. T The
first one-Did we do well in coming here? did we find what we
were in search of? The second-Has our coming here benefited
the county and the State? The first one can only be answered
from individual experience, but I believe it ought to be answered
with 'yes.' If any one cane here with the hope to find a new
'Eldorado' where he could get rich, mighty and powerful without
work, he found himself deceived, and deserved no better fate.
But any one who wanted to work, to keep his expense within
bounds, soon saw the bitter care for daily food flee him; saw himself able to furnish not only subsistence, but the decencies of life
for those who depended upon him, and he felt himself a man ---a
free man-an equal of the best. In politics, even if not all our
desires are fulfilled, we find a great step forward from the 'Old
Faderland.' It is the opinion of the majority of the settlers that
no one of them returned by his own choice to Germany; that such
as went there, even with the purpose of remaining, came back very
quickly, and don't talk any more about their visions of staying
there.
"The second question I believe I can also answer with 'yes.'
The Germans learned a great deal from the Americans-enterprise and self dependence; but the Americans lhave also learned
something from the Germans ---steadiness of plllrpose aLld IhOlnlety
to tlhe trusts reposted ii theml. The Americain bCitcrO was far
ahead of his German neighbor during the first years, but after 10
years the tables have turned, and the Germans are leading. As a
proof of this, compare the adjoining towns of Frankenmuth and
Bridgeport. Honesty to the trust imrposed upon them, is shown
bv the fact that although' we ]have htad many 'dIaitiriL'jrs j in public
offices, not one of' them was a German. A great many held offices
of consequence, as treasurers, sheriffs, register of deeds, etc.
The German members of the Board of Supervisors are respected
and influential. Of city offices the Germans have had their share
-chiefly of such as gave plenty of work and no income, viz.:
Water, Cemetery, School, Fire and Poor Boards.
"Let us devote our time as we have done so far, to the welfare
of our county, so that our nation may become a wise, free and
powerful one, and this Republic a model for all countries to imitate. For this purpose let us work and strive, each one for himself, and for all."